but in a highly unusual move, the secretary chose not to meet with president hamid karzai who is the one holding up the pact that would keep thousands of u.s. and nato forces in afghanistan after 2014 for training and counterterrorism missions. >> president obama and secretary of state john kerry discussing middle east policy at a washington forum today. the president addressing a wide range of issues including strained relation, with israel, the peace process between israel and the palestinians, as well as defending the recent nuclear deal with iran. >> what we have to do is make a decision as to given the options available, what is the best way for us to assure that iran does not get a nuclear weapon? the best way is to test this diplomatic pact. understanding that it's not based on trust. it's based on what we can verify. >> live in washington with more. >> the nuclear deal calls for iran to cap in a verifiable way its nuclear program in exchange for an ease in international sanctions. today, president obama was try to answer critic, s of the deal. israeli prime minister netanyahu